Cover arrangement for large receptacles



July 21, 1970 PORN] ETAL COVER ARRANGEMENT FOR LARGE RECEPTACLES Filed March 19, 1968 llll O 24 mllnllll wnm mmm Wm mFF 20 6:. 65 RR 00 Err- Gm.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,521,537 COVER ARRANGEMENT FOR LARGE RECEPTACLES George P. Forni and George D. Forni, both of 3600 Depot Road, Hayward, Calif. 94545 Filed Mar. 19, 1968, Ser. No. 714,250 Int. Cl. E0211 29/14 U.S. C]. 9434 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cover arrangement is described for massive extremely large receptacles of the type typically formed of concrete and sunk beneath a street or other roadway to house electrical junction boxes, terminal strips, valves, meters, etc. The arrangement provides substantial structural strength to support heavy vehicular trafiic flow, while yet enabling relatively thin light weight covers to be employed therewith. Although the arrangement is such as to reenforce thin covers, the reenforcing means are readily removable to permit entry of service personnel into the receptacle interior.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Massive box-like receptacles of concrete are extensively employed with underground utility systems to house various components such as electrical junction boxes, terminal strips, valves, meters, etc., in a protected, yet accessible manner. The receptacles are typically embedded in the ground beneath the level of a street or other structure. Heretofore, the covers bridging the upper open ends of such receptacles have generally been only supported about their peripheries, and consequently of relatively thick, extremely heavy steel plate, or the like, in order to provide adequate structural strength to support the flow of heavy vehicular trafiic passing thereover. Such heavy covers are, of course, extremely difficult and cumbersome to remove to afford access to the interior of the receptacle. Various attempts have been made to provide reenforced cover arrangements for enabling thin, lighter weight covers to be utilized, however, such arrangements have not been successful by virtue of the reenforcing means interfering with access to the receptacle interior.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved cover arrangement for massive receptacles which provides reenforcement to enable relatively thin light Weight covers to be employed to support the load of heavy vehicular trafiic flow, and yet permits ready access to the interior of the receptacle. In addition, the arrangement is such that more than one relatively small light weight cover may be employed to close the receptacle whereby the covers are relatively easy to remove.

In the accomplishment of the foregoing, the cover arrangement of the present invention generally includes a cover support frame of steel, or the like, conformed to the rim of the body of a receptacle and secured therein. A plurality of structural members are removably secured to the frame between opposite sides thereof at spaced intervals. One or more covers are supported upon the structural members and thereby reenforced. By virtue of the reenforcement provided by the structural members, relatively thin light weight covers may be employed without sacrifice of structural strength. Upon removal of the covers, as many of the structural members may be removed as are required to enable service personnel to enter the interior of the receptacle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a receptacle provided with a cover arrangement in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the receptacle and cover arrangement.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a support frame. of the cover arrangement and a structural member thereof removably securable to the frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 in detail, there is shown a massive receptable 11 of concrete, or the like, of the type adapted to be sunk into the ground beneath a street or other roadway. Such a receptacle is typically employed to house various components of underground utility systems such as junction boxes, terminal strips, meters, valves, etc., requiring periodic observation or service necessitating entry of personnel into the receptacle interior. The receptacle includes a rectangular box-like body 12 having an open upper end defined by the rim 13 of the marginal side wall 14 of the body. Recessed knockouts 16 are conventionally provided in the side wall 14 such that they may be broken out to provide openings through which cables, pipes, or the like may be led into the receptacle interior for connection to the various system components housed therein.

Closure of the open upper end of the body of the receptacle is accomplished by means of a flat cover 17, of steel plate, or equivalent structurally strong material, substantially conformed to the upper rim 13 and removably secured in closing relation thereto. Heretofore covers employed to close the open ends of massive receptacles have been extremely thick and heavy since they have been only marginally supported and consequently must possess substantial structural strength in their central unsupported areas. In addition, it has been necessary that only a single cover be employed in order that the marginal support is adequate. It will therefore be appreciated that conventional marginally supported covers have been extremely difficult and cumbersome to remove in order to afford access to the interior of a receptacle. Although attempts have been made to obviate the foregoing difliculties by providing reenforcing means to impart structural strength to relatively thinner and lighter weight covers, such attempts have not been satisfactory inasmuch as the reenforcing means have interfered with the ready access to the interior of the receptacle.

In accordance with the present invention, an arrangement is provided to reenforce one or more relatively thin, light weight covers 17 to impart adequate structural strength thereto, while yet unobstructing access to the receptacle interior. More particularly, the cover arrangement includes a cover support frame 18 conformed to the rim 13 of the body 12 and arranged to support one or more covers 17 in reenforcing relation thereto. The frame is provided peripherally inward with a depending rectangular skirt 19 adapted to engage the inner periphery of the marginal side wall 14 of the body. The frame is provided outwardly with a rectangular flange 21 in right angular outwardly turned relation to the skirt and adapted to overlie the rim 13. The marginal edge of the flange is right angularly upwardly turned to define a marginal lip 22, whereby the flange is recessed from the upper edge of the lip. The lip serves to prevent horizontal movement of one or more covers 17 marginally supported on the flange in substantially flush relation to the upper edge of the lip. Securance of the frame to the body of the receptacle is preferably facilitated by pairs of inwardly tapered notches 23 extending into opposite sides of the skirt 19 at spaced positions and traversed by bolts 24 tightened into bolt receiving means embedded in the marginal side Wall 14 of the receptacle. Such arrangement is advantageous in that it affords adjustability of the inclination of the frame relative to the receptacle (as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 2) so that the cover 17 will conform to the top surface of the surrounding area. It will be appreciated, however, that other means may as well be employed to secure the frame to the receptacle.

In accordance with the particularly salient aspects of the present invention, removable reenforcing means are provided to bridge opposite sides of the frame 18 and furnish structural strength to the central areas of covers 17 marginally supported on the flange 21. In this regard, the reenforcing means preferably comprise a plurality of I-beams 26, or equivalent structural members, removably secured at spaced intervals between opposite sides of the skirt of the frame in flush relation to the flange 21. Re-

movable securance of the I-beams is advantageously facilitated by pairs of opposed U-brackets 27 secured to opposite sides of the skirt 19 at spaced intervals in upwardly facing relation to receive and support the beams. The upper ends of the parallel spaced side legs of the brackets are flush with the flange 21 and the webs thereof spaced downwardly therefrom by a distance equal to the height of the beams. Thus, when the beams are lowered into position, as indicated in FIG. 3, with the ends thereof engaging the brackets and supported upon the webs thereof, the upper surfaces of the beams are flush with the flange 21. The covers 17 may accordingly be supported upon the flange 21 and I-beams 26, substantial structural reenforcement being imparted to the covers by the beams, whereby relatively thin light weight covers 4 may be employed. When it is necessary for personnel to gain access to the interior of the receptacle 11, one or more of the covers 17 is lifted from the flange 21 and I-beams 26, such removal being facilitated by finger holes 28 provided in the covers. Thereafter, as many beams are lifted from the brackets 27 as are necessary to enable personnel to enter the interior of the receptacle.

We claim:

1. A cover arrangement for a massive receptacle adapted to underlie a roadway or the like and having an opening at its upper end, comprising a cover support frame substantially conforming to said opening so as to be secured therein and defining a large central opening through which access is afforded into the interior of said receptacle, said frame having a perimetric flange providing a generally planar surface adapted to support a cover thereon, a plurality of structural members extending across said central opening in spaced apart relation and forming permanent reinforcing supports for such cover, support components respectively secured to said frame along opposite sides thereof for removably and replaceably supporting the associated end portions of said structural mem bers thereon at an elevation such that the upper coverengaging surfaces thereof are substantially flush with said planar surface, and at least one relatively thin light weight cover supported on said frame and said structural members, whereby each of said structural members is readily Withdrawn from the support position thereof when said cover is removed to afford access into said receptacle through said central opening and is thereafter readily replaced to provide support for said light weight cover to prevent deformation thereof under the heavy loads likely to be imposed thereon, said receptacle opening being defined by the rim of a marginal side wall of said receptacle,

and said cover arrangement being further defined by said frame having a depending skirt adapted to engage the inner periphery of said marginal side wall, said flange being outwardly turned from said skirt and adapted to overlie said rim and having an upwardly turned marginal lip, each of said covers being supported on said flange in flush relation to the upper edge of said lip, said support components comprising pairs of opposed U-brackets secured to opposite sides of said skirt at spaced intervals in upwardly facing relation, the upper ends of the spaced side legs of said brackets being flush with said flange and webs of said brackets being spaced downwardly from said flange by a distance equal to the height of said structural members, each of said pairs of brackets receiving the opposite ends of one of said structural members and supporting the same upon the webs thereof, said structural members being thereby flush with said flange.

2. A cover arrangement according to claim 1, further defined by said structural members being I-beams.

3. A cover arrangement for a massive receptacle having an opening at its upper end comprising a cover support frame conformed to the rim of said opening and secured therein, said frame adapted to support a flat cover, a plurality of structural members removably secured between opposite sides of said frame at spaced intervals, and at least one relatively thin light weight flat cover supported on said frame and said structural members, said receptacle opening being defined by the rim of a marginal side wall of said receptacle, and said cover arrangement being further defined by said frame having a depending skirt adapted to engage the inner periphery of said marginal side wall, said frame having a flange right angularly outwardly turned from said skirt and adapted to overlie said rim, said flange having right angularly upwardly turned marginal lip, each of said covers supported on said flange in flush relation to the upper edge of said lip, said cover arrangement further being defined by pairs of opposed U-brackets secured to opposite sides of said skirt at spaced intervals in upwardly facing relation, the upper ends of the spaced side legs of said brackets being flush with said flange and the webs of said brackets being spaced downwardly from said flange by a distance equal to the height of said structural members, each of said pairs of brackets receiving the opposite ends of one of said structural members and supporting same upon the webs thereof, said structural members being thereby flush with said flange.

4. A cover arrangement according to claim 3, further defined by said structural members being I-beams.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,941,589 1/1934 Wellons 9435 XR 2,056,362 10/1936 Moore 94-34 2,137,009 11/1938 Stromberg 52-702 XR 2,350,018 5/1944 Dean 52-20 XR 3,046,853 7/1962 Legendre 94-34 3,221,616 12/1965 Flegel 94--34 FOREIGN PATENTS 503,412 4/1939 Great Britain.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 52-20, 720 

